By Warren Waters
If you want to live in a better community, the Planning Committee of the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) needs you. The more residents get involved in planning and development issues, the more we will be able to shape a better community. The Planning Committee’s objectives are to understand and help improve planning and development proposals and to reflect the community’s views. We report on priority issues at LCA meetings, monitor and review development proposals and provide input on City policy development and special projects as they arise.
This year we intend to address the gaps and obstacles in the current planning process and continue our focus on the ByWard Market secondary plan, part of the ongoing city-wide rezoning engage.ottawa.ca/zoning.
Pending Lowertown development applications and projects under construction:
112 and 134 Nelson (near Rideau)
Applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control were submitted, and LCA opposed the application because of its density, small unit size, heritage impacts, privacy concerns and security and parking impacts on local streets. A third revised submission is expected by the City, and the developer promised to involve its neighbours in developing a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design plan. File lead: Adrian.vanWyk@ottawa.ca
200 and 201 Friel (at Chapel and Beausoleil)
Applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control were submitted by Ottawa Community Housing. The LCA sent our concerns about the excessive height, safety and security, lack of parking and lack of family-sized units. Rezoning was approved in July, but site plan approval is pending.
File lead: Erin.OConnell@ottawa.ca
253, 255 and 257 York Street and 78 and 80 Nelson (at York)
Zoning By-law Amendment to permit conversion of two buildings to one building containing 57 dwelling units and 38 rooming units was submitted. Currently the two buildings have 37 dwelling units and seven rooming units. This was scheduled for the February 2023 City Planning committee meeting but was pulled. The proposal is now expected to go back to the City Planning Committee in November. File lead: Jean-Charles.Renaud@ottawa.ca
109-115 Dalhousie (near Bolton)
Applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control have been submitted. Staff provided feedback in July 2022 and are waiting on applicant response. File lead: Nader.kadri@ottawa.ca
275 King Edward (at Murray)
The Zoning By-law Amendment was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. We have been waiting on a decision from the Tribunal related to discussions between the applicant and appellants since August 2022. File lead: Seana.Turkington@ottawa.ca
641 Rideau (near Cummings Bridge)
Applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment were approved in Spring 2022. No Site Plan Control application has been submitted. File lead: Simon.Deiaco@ottawa.ca
211 Clarence (near Cumberland)
The City awaits the second submission of a Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control application to develop a nine-storey apartment building containing 34 dwelling units. No vehicular parking spaces and 34 bicycle parking spaces are proposed. File lead: John.Bernier@ottawa.ca
110 York, 137 and 141 George
The Site Plan and zoning application is still on hold for Claridge Developments’ 19-storey addition to the Andaz Hotel, pending a response from the applicant. This summer new drawings were being reviewed. File lead: Erin.OConnell@ottawa.ca
216 Murray (near King Edward)
In the Shepherds of Good Hope building there will be a 16-hour-a-day drop-in on the main floor, with a second-floor kitchen dining hall, and six more floors with up to 48 single apartments. The Ontario Land Tribunal appeal was unsuccessful. The building is under construction. File lead: Andrew.McCreight@ottawa.ca
182 Murray (near Cumberland)
Demolition of a two-storey residential building and construction of a two-storey triplex in underway. File lead: greg.macpherson@ottawa.ca
126 York and 151 George (near Dalhousie)
In October 2020, the developer consulted with residents, suggesting a 22-storey apartment building with about 200 units on George, while preserving and converting the Major building on York into a hotel with about 200 rooms. Under construction. File lead: Anne.Fitzpatrick@ottawa.ca
Warren Waters is Vice-President, and Chair of the Planning Committee of the LCA.